Half of Brits struggling to pay energy bills

Nearly half (49%) of adults in Great Britain who are responsible for paying energy bills are struggling to cover the cost, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Gas prices rose by 129.4% in the year to March 2023, while the cost of electricity was up 66.7%. And this has clearly had a marked impact on people’s behaviour.

Over half (53%) of those questioned said they are using less energy at home in a bid to keep costs as low as possible. While 20% said they struggled to keep comfortably warm in February because they were reluctant to turn the heating on. This was slightly down on the figures for November and December, but this may well have been a result of the milder weather in February.

The people most likely to find it difficult to keep warm at home were those:

• with moderate/severe depression
• in the most deprived areas of England
• not in work and not looking for work and not retired

If you’re struggling

If you’re finding it difficult to cover the cost of your energy bills, you may be able to get help from your supplier. See our guide on financial help from your energy supplier to find out more. You may also want to check out our blog on 50 energy-saving tips to help you cut costs.

And if money worries are keeping you awake at night, why not get in touch to see if we can help. We can provide budgeting advice, check you’re claiming all the benefits and financial support you’re entitled to, and much more.